"The steward started at the unusual summons, and stared at the fellow in blank astonishment, unable to understand what he meant. "'Come, I tell you; rise--you're wanted.' "'Dog!' roared the steward, almost powerless with rage--'what do you mean by this insolence? Get out!' "'No,' said the man, 'I won't get out. You get up. They are all waiting.' "'Pig! I'll make you pay for this. Let me get hold of you, you villain!' and he jumped out of bed; but as he did so he perceived three of his other men-servants at the threshold ready to support the coachman. "'Oh! this is a conspiracy; but I'll soon settle you. Evan, you devil, where are you? Come here.' "Evan thus called--he was a lacquey--appeared at the door with a broad grin on his face. "'Did you call, master?' "'Yes, villain; don't you see? I am going to be murdered by these pigs. Go instantly for the policemen.' "'No, no, baron; I have gone too often for the stan's men. We can do without them this morning.' "'Come, come, master,' again struck in the tall coachman, 'don't you waste our time and keep the company waiting. Put on your halat; never mind the rest of your clothes; you won't need them for a little. You won't come--nay, but you must.' And he laid hold of him by the neck. 'Come along!' and so they dragged their victim into the great dining hall. "There, sitting round the room on chairs and lolling on the sofas, were all the souls belonging to his domestic establishment, about thirty in all. Pillows were spread on the floor in the middle of the room; to these the steward was dragged, and forcibly stretched on them face down, with two men at his feet and two at his head. "The coachman, who had been pretty frequently chastised in former times, was ring-leader. He sat down on a large easy-chair, the seat of honor, and ordered a pipe and coffee. This was brought him by one of the female servants. When the long cherry-tree tube began to draw, in imitation of his master's manner he puffed out the smoke, put on a fierce look, stretched out his legs, and said, 'Now then, go on. Give the pig forty blows! creapka (hard)!' "In an instant the halat was torn up, and two lacqueys, standing at either side, armed with birch-rods, slowly and deliberately commenced the flagellation. The coachman told {116} off the blows as he smoked in dignity, 'one, two, three,' and so on to forty. "'Now, then,' said coachee, 'stop. Brothers and sisters, have we done right?' "'Right!' they all said. "'Is there one here whom he has not beaten?' "'Are you satisfied?' "'Then go all of you home, and leave this house. Not one must remain. Release the prisoner.' "Up jumped their tyrant, little the worse bodily for the beating he had got, but he was livid with rage. His face turned green and purple, he gnashed his teeth, and spat on his rebellious slaves. Speech seemed gone, and they all laughed in his face.